NEW DELHI: Flanked by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra, Pranab Mukherjee filed his nomination papers for the post of the 13 {+t} {+h} President of India on Thursday. Hours later, former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma made it an official contest by filing his papers for the July 19 elections in which Mukherjee seems poised for a runaway victory.

Both the Congress-led UPA and the Opposition camp made the filing of papers a show of strength in Parliament. Mukherjee was also accompanied by Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram, AK Antony, Motilal Vora, Farooq Abdullah and eight chief ministers of Congress-ruled states. RJD's Lalu Prasad, LJP's Ram Vilas Paswan and DMK's TR Baalu were present when Mukherjee handed over his nomination papers to VK Agnihotri, Rajya Sabha secretary-general and Returning Officer for the presidential election. No CPM, JD(U) and Shiv Sena leaders were present when Mukherjee filed his nomination papers, even though these parties have committed their support to Mukherjee.

Mukherjee reached out to estranged ally Trinamool Congress, which is likely to abstain from voting. "I seek the support of all those, including Trinamool Congress, who have not yet decided... I only wish at this time that let me have the blessings of God and cooperation of all," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee said he would start his campaign on June 30 from Chennai. He would visit Hyderabad and Bangalore the next day. He is likely to visit Kolkata either on July 7 or 8 during which he is likely to meet Banerjee. Law minister Salman Khurshid hoped Banerjee would finally support Mukherjee.

The first set of papers was submitted by the prime minister and the Congress president. The second set was submitted by Motilal Vora while Mukherjee submitted the other two of the total four sets. The papers were signed by as many as 486 MPs and MLAs, including Union ministers, chief ministers, CLP leaders and PCC chiefs.

As per the support committed by parties to the respective candidates, Mukherjee is projected to get about 6.45 lakh votes in the electoral college of 10.98 lakh, way beyond the required 5,49,442 votes. Sangma may get 3.12 lakh votes.